KEEP HEALTH PROMISES

There is no single area of government the Saskatchewan public holds more dear than health care.

Our Canadian universal system has roots in the province, and making sure it remains accessible for all equally is important to voters. Thus, Leader-Post reporter Pam Cowan’s yearend interview with Health Minister Jim Reiter was important and undoubtedly read closely by audiences.

This is a year of immense change in health care for Saskatchewan. Following the lead of Alberta, government is going down to a single health care authority. It is hoped that the move will save a significant amount of money, as our neighbours to the west managed to put away $600 million through the amalgamation.

But where will those savings come from? Reiter’s answer is worth noting. “It’s going to be senior management. This is not going to affect front-line care. Although in the long term, we expect it to improve front-line care because we’ll be acting more as one system … We’re going to be going from 12 CEOs down to one, we’re going to be going to far fewer vice-presidents … It will be happening incrementally.”

Of course, the unions will be watching to make sure this promise is kept. But so will voters who want to see if the present government can fundamentally change how health care is administered without a decrease in quality.

The head office for the single authority is in Saskatoon. The new board is made up of 10 members from around the province. Under the 12-authority model, more than 100 board members were representing areas of the province, hearing from community members and bringing forward their concerns. Can 10 people do the same job?

We point to Reiter’s own words as assurance: “But that doesn’t mean everything needs to be in Saskatoon ... We’re using a decentralization management structure, so you’re still going to see management people in Regina, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert and other communities.”

Again, voters will be watching to make sure non-urban centres still have a strong voice about their particular needs. Managers need to be put in place outside Saskatoon quickly.

If we are following in the footsteps of Alberta, it is important to note that government ended up implementing designated zones to ensure communities’ concerns are still heard.Reiter and other government members are also under pressure when it comes to creating a provincial plan for the legalization of marijuana, and in making the incremental increases the minister wants for mental health treatment.

For the sake of our health, we call on them to keep those promises.